B16004 - RTC Mobility Training Center 2016 AIA Nevada Excellence In Design Awards Built Architecture November 10, 2016
2016 AIA Nevada Excellence In Design Awards Project Category (choose one) - See category descriptions in the Call for Entries Packet Built Architecture Unbuilt Architecture Collaborative Achievement Academic Projects Name of Project RTC Mobility Training Center Type of Project: Completion Date: Government/Public Use January 2016 Type of Construction: New Addition and Renovation Project Identification Number B16004 Materials Used: Construction materials used for the RTC Mobility Training Center included: Concrete slab on grade, steel braced frame structure. Exterior cladding materials consisting of Alucobond metal wall panels, corrugated metal panels, Trespa wall panels, butt glazed windows, Arktura aluminum canopy soffit and wall panels at exterior entry area, and single ply TPO roofing. Interior finishes of painted dry wall over steel studs, interior vinyl wall covering full height wall murals, lay in acoustical ceiling tiles, exposed structure painted ceiling, epoxy flooring system, carpet, exposed concrete and faux painted asphalt on concrete flooring for simulated exterior roadway environment for the interior certification and assessment testing area. Building Areas: 14,500 sq. ft. Statement of Design Approach (describe initial thinking and considerations for the project): The team designed the exterior of the facility to work in harmony with the existing maintenance facility and present a friendly desert inspired aesthetic. We captured our architectural inspirations from the Red Rock Mountains that can be seen in the distance from the west side of the site. The dynamic red and orange color of the building s cladding systems is symbolic of Red Rock. The new training center is intended for public access and use, so it is important that the training center be recognizable to the public and be differentiated from the existing RTC maintenance facility adjacent to it. The building s fenestration located in the upper Northeast corner, serves as a beacon or lantern at night and is clearly visible from the I-215 freeway. Color is used to enliven the building s main entrance along with utilizing large entry signage to clearly denote the public entranceway welcoming the mobility and visually impaired patrons into the building. This state-of-the-art facility was innovative in its use of interactive and functional bus systems as well as realistic outdoor obstacles and challenges. These obstacles and challenges necessary to the patron s training and assessment were creatively integrated into the interior of this facility to provide a consistent and challenging training environment as required by the RTC. The simulation of this outdoor environment on the interior was an innovative approach to meeting the RTC s needs. The facility also contains the only blindness skills training facility in Nevada, Blindconnect s Angela s House. Blindconnect teaches its clients skills such as daily living, orientation and mobility, technology, personal care, communication and advocacy, coping and adjustment, and Braille. The space is a fully equipped, mock residence of a two bedroom apartment for training in a safe, controlled environment. 2 B16004 - RTC Mobility Training Center Built Architecture
2016 AIA Nevada Excellence In Design Awards Name of Project RTC Mobility Training Center Project Identification Number B16004 Narrative (how the initial thinking and considerations for the project were implemented and executed - Limited To 400 Words): The Mobility Training Facility interior design includes two full sized city buses situated on a fictitious exterior streetscape encompassing a RTC transit bus shelter and bus stop, paved roads, curb cut outs, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramps and sidewalk, and a functional assessment course with various surface and terrain obstacles. Integration of an audio system into the certification training area introduced background streetscape sounds, enhancing the authenticity of the outdoor environment. Blindconnect s Angela s House is a unique feature of the facility. It serves as a simulated, typical Las Vegas, two bedroom, 1,200 sq ft residence. This fully equipped mock residence is used by the vision impaired for learning critical living skills. Angela s House is the only blindness skills training facility in Nevada. of the panel perforations. Another being the undulation in the red and orange panel break lines in order to reference the shifting contours in a mountain strata cut. And lastly, the overall earth-toned colors used in the material and texture choices to complement the desert mountain landscape. The facility also includes additional parking, direct front door access for city buses, a new bus stop, and an exterior dog walk area for the visually impaired service dogs while at the facility. Expressing the architectural inspiration derived from the area s mountains, the dynamic red and orange color of the building s cladding systems is symbolic of Red Rock. The protruding glazed volume to the northwest is in reference of the desert sky. Finally, the elongated entry volume wrapped with perforated panels is in reference to the canyon concept embedded into a mountain-scape. Color is used to enliven the large entry signage to the public entranceway and to welcome the mobility and visually impaired patrons into the building. The design team introduced a lime-green feature wall to create a spark to energize the entry zone. The patterned perforations to the canopy create a 4D entry experience via the ever-shifting casting of light and shadow effects scattered throughout the area and the unseen light sensations felt within this space. The tertiary level of façade design was detailed in the smaller scaled moves which were intended to further complement both the canyon concept and user group. The first being the braille inspired patterning B16004 - RTC Mobility Training Center Built Architecture 3
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Sky Sun Mountain Canyon CONCEPT DIAGRAMS B16004 - RTC Mobility Training Center Built Architecture 15
Signal Bus Ground Material Course Crosswalk Ramp Stair Signal Elec. Dog Area Mech. High Density File System Overflow Cubes Training Training Office Training Office Training Office Break Meeting Room IT Training Training Office Training Office Bus Shelter Bus Storage NCEP Cert. Cert. WAITING AREA NCEP Working Room Cert. Cert. Cert. Cert. Utility Closet Existing Offices N.I.C. Existing Womens Cert. Cert. Existing Mens Waiting Area Lobby Area Reception / Entry Area Entry FLOOR PLAN DIAGRAM 16 B16004 - RTC Mobility Training Center Built Architecture
B16004 - RTC Mobility Training Center